Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-02-19
wAsn,saron,s IRREGULARITIES.
An Interesting spot-Reltos of the
Revolutionary War.

I0IOSIlUk 0uU SudEuutUx VI tu0 ut0uy Cole
ebrated relics Of tho Revolutionary war
with which the traveller in the eastern
states comes In contact. Reference 10
had to Washingtt,n's headquarters, l0ca-
ted at Newburgh, N. Y, on the pictur-
esque shores Of the Hudson river. Tho
building Is of rough stone. one story
high, and Is 58 by 46 feet III size. The
title to the land upon which 1t 10 located
was vested by the German Patent" in
Herman SchOneman, who sold 1t In It'll,
ships, 1t was purchased by Jonathan
Hasbrouck, grandson of one Of the early
Huguenot emigrants to the new world.
The building was erected by Hasbrouck
III l75Q. and WAS for q long time known
rs the Hasbrouck house. HAsbrouok
one Of the first supervisors Of the town
Of Nswburgh and afterwsrd COLONEL In
the army which fought for and obtained
Americas independence.
Washington made this house his head
quarters from the spring OF 1882 to
August, 1883. At this place he passed
through that trying period Of the Revo-
luton which Witnessed tho disbanding
of an army, hungry and almost naked,
which had done vslorous service for
seven long years; and now that the pur-
suits Of peace must be adopted rs u live.
lihOod, tnero were but few of tho old
veterans who knew where or how to be-
gin. Congress was slow to act. and
failed to bring even partial relief to the
threadbare troops. The constitutional
inactivity which characterizss the pres-
ent congress evidently had Its origin in
the dark days which succeeded the Re-
vOlution.
The presence Of the army Of the Revo-
luton about this now historic spot was
to counleract tho plans Of the British
ministry, who hoped TO obtain control
Of the navigation of the Hudson; and
how we'll the plans of Gen. Washington
were laid and carried out IL to be seen
in the many relies Of the Revolution now
sheltered beneath the roof"f this famous
hea' a'lquarters. While English cannon
thundered at New York .ni Quebec. the
| extremes Of the line, the forces Of the
patriots guarded the Highland passes.
Great trees were felled along the hills
about the present site of West Point;
their trunks were chained together and
sunk below the surface of the river.
Cribs were constructed on tho rivers
bottom, and OLher logs poimte al,i
these points, rudelv irOi,e |, were placed
at All angle In these cribs; thus forming
n chevaME de (rize to prevent the British
vessels from passing up the stream.
Specimens Of these logs and spiked thu
bers, with their great chains welded
upon them, the iron eaten away by rust,
may now be seen Ut the headquarters.
They were raised from their wstsry be /
about the middle of the present century.
Washinxton's family. wham occupying
the headquarters, consisted Of himself.
the sainted Martha Washington and an
aide-de-cainp. The principal room in
the building has gone into history AZ the
dow" One Of these doors led to WASH
ingtOn's bed chamber, another to his
private Office. ono to the family room.
another to the kitchen and another to
the p srlor. From tho solitary window,
a secluded spot, u good view of the Hud-
son and opposite hills was had until the
demand for real estate and subsequent
erection of modern buildings combined
to shut out the beautiful panorama.
Here Lafayette, and Clinton, and Knox,
and Wayne and Gates partook of the
hOspitalities Of their chief aud discussed
the future of the new republic. Here
may now he seen, in all its curious an
tiqmity, the furniture of the Washington
household-Gen. Clinton's piano at
which Martha Washington presided ON
brought sweet surcease from the clang
Of arms aud the din Of war. The har-
mlOny Of this instrument, tho third Ut
the kline ever manufactured, has van
ished, but the discord Is still there in all
its narrowing detail. The old sofa upon
which the weary patriots reclined their
forms occupies remote corner from
which the native moth 10 industriously
endeavOrlny TO remove it. The niahog-
any oval-leaf table from which the WASH
inYtons partook OF their frugal meals
stands in the center OF the great room,
aud in gazing upon it we could almost
hear the gentle Martha in the kitchen
sc0ldiny the maid for breaking Gen. La
fayette's y nustache cup. The pieces we're
saved, however, aud are now exhibited
in glass case. The fireplace IN this
central room is wonder In itselE-sim-
ply an iinuense fiat stone, or several
stones, occupying 6xl0 feet Of space; q
huge iron plate standing against the
wall, and hole in the ceiling cores
pondin5 in size and directly over the
stone area. From this large square hole
in the ceiling q chilnnev. partially Of
rough stone and partially Of sticks and
mud, gradually tapers away out through
the root. The draft Of this chimney ix
very powerful. and. although the fre WIS
really in the room. there being no in-
dentation or setback In the wall, there
is no evidence that the promises were
''sulOKed." The andirOns aud iron
shovel in this historic CRATE will weigh
as many pounds ~ they are aged In
years.
Among the souvenirs to be seen are y
dress worn by Mrs. Washington; locks
OF WashinytOn's and Lafayette's hair {;
limb Of tree under which Rurgoyne
surrendereI; chip from the Charter